The inaugural Bowls South Africa (BSA) U35 Inter-Districts Tournament concluded in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, 23 September, at the Beaconsfield Park Bowling Green Club in Kimberley, with Bowls Gauteng North (BGN) crowned as the first-ever champions.
In a final that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, BGN edged out Natal Inland in the most dramatic of circumstances. The scores were locked at 14-all with one end remaining, and it seemed as though Natal Inland had positioned themselves for victory. Lead Kholwani Khanyile opened the head with a front toucher and a well-placed back bowl, supported by precise positional play from Calsey Hollis and Caleb Jansen van Rensburg. Many in the crowd believed the gold medal was theirs.
But BGN’s Carmen Fourie turned the game with a superb attacking shot that opened up the jack, creating a chance for skip Cecil Bornman. Natal Inland’s skip, Sean Lightfoot, who had shone throughout the tournament, narrowly missed his line on a crucial delivery and sliced the jack closer to a BGN bowl. Bornman seized the moment, drawing two telling bowls that forced the match into a measure.
A hush fell over the green before the players confirmed with a measure that BGN’s bowl as just millimetres closer. The result sparked scenes of jubilation as Bornman, Fourie, Anesu Ziramba, and Lionyl-Jon Page celebrated an unforgettable victory.
Natal Inland settled for a well-deserved silver medal, while Johannesburg Bowls Association and Sables Bowling Association shared bronze after losing out in the semi-finals.
The host province, Northern Cape Bowls, entered four teams and delivered a strong showing. Both the A and B teams narrowly missed semi-final qualification, finishing second in their respective pools of 11 teams. Skips Charles-Peter Mathewson and LeRoux Fourie described it as a “bitter pill to swallow” but praised their teammates for their efforts. “It was an honour to compete on home soil and to feel the support from the local crowd,” Mathewson added.
For Kimberley, the tournament was a proud moment. Known as the Diamond City and steeped in sporting heritage, it once again proved to be a fitting stage for a national competition. With world-class bowls, unforgettable drama, and passionate local support, the first-ever U35 tournament of its kinds will long be remembered as a milestone in South African bowls.
Impressed with talent
A total of 44 teams, with four members each, competed in this inaugural event under the expanded U35 age limit, previously a U30 competition.
Lyla Young, vice-president of Bowls South Africa, who attended the event, said the U35 competition replaces the U30 competition.
Young was impressed with the talent showcased on the greens, commenting that these players are the future of bowls. She said many of these players participated in the sport of bowls since they were in the U15 category. An aim of Bowls South Africa is to increase youth participation and eventually have bowls recognised as a formal school sport at provincial and national levels.
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